VZCZCXYZ0012
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKA #0527 1341243
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131243Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6756
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0125
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8444
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2172
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0478
RUEKDIA/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0117
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
UNCLAS DHAKA 000527
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/PSC AND SCA/PB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MARR KPKO BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH STUDYING REQUEST FOR UNAMID AVIATION
SUPPORT AND ENABLING ASSETS
REF: STATE 49277
1. (U) POL/ECON Counselor delivered reftel demarche to
Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry May 12, and the DCM followed up
at a senior level May 13. The Government of Bangladesh
informed us they were studying the request and would respond
in the coming days. The Ambassador will meet with the
Foreign Adviser May 15 and intends to discuss this issue
among other topics. The Defense Attache has already been in
contact with the Armed Forces Division (Bangladesh's JCS
equivalent) on the GOB's ability to provide helicopters to
UNAMID and has reported details through DOD channels.
2. (U) From previous conversations with senior Bangladesh
Air Force Officers, we know that the GOB is eager to provide
assistance to UNAMID but is constrained by limited aviation
assets. Bangladesh previously offered the Bell Helicopters
mentioned in reftel because these were the only aircraft
available in the inventory. Bangladesh is currently
providing aircraft to other PKOs and has a
limited supply available. We will seek to determine whether
the offer of USG assistance would help Bangladesh make other
aircraft available for UNAMID.
Moriarty